In tears and on our knees. It is at the end of the suspense, of their strength and their emotions, that Romain and Laura have won the 18th edition of “Beijing Express”, this Saturday May 4 evening on M 6. They themselves no longer believed it. It must be said that they had arrived at the last crossing point after their rivals, Patricia and Jessica. They also gave a wrong answer, which meant a three-minute penalty.
But this edition of “Beijing Express” once again showed that we must never give up. ” It is not possible ! », was surprised Romain, exhausted, when he understood that his partner was in the lead as they passed through the gate of the Chua Long Hung pagoda, in Hanoi. The terminus of this very eventful journey.
An outcome like a completely crazy last episode, during which the pair from Pas-de-Calais kept returning to poorly started situations. Started the day before in the sprawling Vietnamese capital of 8 million inhabitants, this final hitchhiking race left the two pairs tied with 5 amulets each, or 50,000 euros.
They manage to completely reverse the outcome of the race
On the menu before crossing the finish line: three intermediate sprints. All spiced up by a hefty addition for the pair finishing second at each stage: 10 euros per second of delay taken from their kitty for the benefit of that of their opponents. That is 600 euros per minute, 18,000 euros per half hour and 36,000 per hour. “You can win it all or lose it all,” sums up Stéphane Rotenberg from the outset.
From the first confrontation, the Corsicans show off their logical talents. Brilliantly succeeding in the imposed puzzle, they nevertheless saw their lead disappear during the last portion by car. In question, a driver who struggles to find the right entrance to the immense park where Stéphane Rotenberg is located. After having gone around, the two friends certainly arrive first, but with much less margin than expected over Romain and Laura. Verdict: a little more than 4 minutes difference, or around 2,700 euros.
The talent of the hairdresser and his client to choose the right cars will then spark. Completely dropped during the second intermediate sprint, they managed to completely reverse the outcome of the race. Taking advantage of an excellent driver, the two hitchhikers catch up with the Corsicans, stuck in the city’s monster traffic jams. They even surpass them, arriving with a comfortable lead: 18 minutes and almost 10,000 euros won. The ace of the scissors and the real estate agent can’t believe it. “We are the first. How it is possible ? “.
Romain and Laura delighted to have realized “the biggest dream of their lives”
After a well-deserved night’s rest at the hotel, the two tandems set off the next day for the last intermediate race. Arriving first at the game of the day – a course to be completed with a pole supporting small stacked pots – Romain and Laura stumble upon a tuk-tuk placed across their path. The source of much annoyance for both teams.
The hairdresser and his client finally managed to escape this quagmire first, inflicting a crushing defeat on their opponents: 32 minutes late and nearly 20,000 euros taken from the Corsicans’ kitty. “What matters to us is to win, even at zero”, philosophizes Jessica, still just as combative despite the nest egg falling to 22,000 euros, compared to 78,000 for their competitors.
The two inhabitants of the Isle of Beauty will also sell their skin dearly during the final sprint which follows. Immersed in the streets of Hanoi in the middle of the night, they completed a good journey, taking the advantage after Romain’s error when asked the question at the last crossing point. “I feel like shit.” I am disgusted ! », blurts the candidate, convinced that he will cause his team to lose.
But one last time, the thirty-year-old and his friend can count on their lucky stars. Quickly taking a car, they arrived first at the finish line, winning this 18th season of “Beijing Express”. Eventually, the nerves give out. On the ground and sobbing for long seconds, they repeat as if to believe it: “We won Beijing Express “.
Delighted at having realized “the biggest dream of their lives”, the winners properly welcome the brave Patricia and Jessica. Although disappointed, they are satisfied with their journey. A final sequence that brings tears to the eyes due to the sincerity of the participants: the immense joy of the winners of course, but also the dignity of the losers. The end point of a very beautiful adventure.
